3 Aug 2015

After only one year on Merseyside, Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno is currently linked with an improbable move to Spanish champions Barcelona. Roma are also reportedly interested in signing Moreno, and Reds legend Mark Lawrenson has urged his old club replace the €15m-rated Spaniard in the first team.

In his Sunday column for the Liverpool Echo, Lawro dismissed the Barcelona speculation; insisted that Liverpool 'need a new left-back', and urged Brendan Rodgers to relegate Moreno to the bench. He further noted:

"Since the New Year, he [Moreno] has been really struggling for form. It all fell apart in the second half of the season. Worryingly, quite often he has looked a little boy lost in the big games"

What do fans think? Last week, I ran a poll on the site asking fans whether Liverpool should sell Moreno:

* 49% of fans votes YES to a sale.

* A slim majority of 51% voted NO to a deal.

Fans are split right down the middle, which (arguably) shows that there's no great confidence in Moreno as Liverpool's long-term option at left-back.

That's hardly surprising, though. One great goal aside, Moreno - who, according to ex-Red Neil Mello, has 'incredible energy' - did little to distinguish himself last season, and like Glen Johnson, the Spaniard is prone to costly errors that lead directly to opposition goals.

As such, if the chance arises, I'd have no problem with Liverpool selling Moreno, for the following reasons:

* Premier League: 4 errors that led directly to opposition goals, including one on his debut against Manchester City, which helped condemn the Reds to a 3-1 defeat.

* Failed to record a single assist in 28 league games.

* Atrocious performance in the 6-1 defeat against Stoke, which prompted Rodgers to remove him at half-time.

Rodgers is already dropping hints that Moreno could be relegated to bench duty this season. After Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar, he told reporters:

"I’ve seen him [Gomez] at centre-half and at right-back, but I wanted to see him at left-back, and I thought he was outstanding. Seeing him play at left-back for the first time, he looked...a really good footballer".

The Agent of Lucas Digne has also confirmed recently that Liverpool 'are tracking' the 21-year old left-back, and if that's true, then it shows that Brendan Rodgers is also not convinced that Moreno is the answer.

That said, left-back is clearly not a priority position to fill, though. Moreno is young, and may improve this season, and there are several other players at the club capable of filling-in.

The time to look at a change is (arguably) January - if Moreno is still making mistakes by, then it'll be clear that he isn't improving. Until then, there are other areas of the team in greater need of reinforcement.